Social Science

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making

1,902 Questions

Explore a curated set of questions on cognitive biases, decision making, and behavioral economics. These concepts evaluate how social norms, emotions, and heuristics influence human judgment and group behavior. Master these topics to build a strong foundation for psychology and social science exams.

Behavioral economicsSocial group influencesEmotional decision makingConfirmation bias

Cognitive Biases and Decision Making Questions

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where individuals tend to attribute their successes to external factors and their failures to internal factors?

  1. Self-serving bias

  2. Fundamental attribution error

  3. Illusory superiority

  4. Confirmation bias
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Fundamental attribution error is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to attribute the behavior of others to internal factors (e.g., personality traits, intentions) while attributing their own behavior to external factors (e.g., circumstances, situations).

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where individuals tend to ignore or downplay the seriousness of a situation when they perceive others are also ignoring or downplaying it?

  1. Groupthink

  2. Social loafing

  3. Diffusion of responsibility

  4. Pluralistic ignorance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pluralistic ignorance is a phenomenon where individuals mistakenly believe that others do not share their concerns or opinions, leading them to suppress their own views or actions.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency to attribute one's own successes to internal factors and one's failures to external factors?

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Fundamental Attribution Error

  3. Confirmation Bias

  4. Illusory Correlation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Self-Serving Bias refers to the tendency to take credit for positive outcomes while blaming external factors for negative outcomes.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive themselves as similar to others in their social group?

  1. Social Identity Theory

  2. Social Comparison Theory

  3. In-Group Bias

  4. Out-Group Homogeneity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Social Identity Theory suggests that individuals derive a sense of identity from their membership in social groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to seek out and interpret information that confirms their existing beliefs?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Illusory Correlation

  3. Belief Perseverance

  4. Selective Perception
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation Bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that supports one's existing beliefs while ignoring or discounting contradictory information.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of those they perceive as experts or authorities?

  1. Informational Social Influence

  2. Normative Social Influence

  3. Compliance

  4. Obedience
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Informational Social Influence refers to the tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of others who are perceived as knowledgeable or credible.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive members of their own social group as more positive and favorable than members of other groups?

  1. In-Group Bias

  2. Out-Group Homogeneity

  3. Social Identity Theory

  4. Ethnocentrism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In-Group Bias refers to the tendency to favor and positively evaluate members of one's own social group over members of other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to change their attitudes and behaviors in response to persuasive messages?

  1. Attitudes and Persuasion

  2. Social Learning Theory

  3. Social Comparison Theory

  4. Compliance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Attitudes and Persuasion refers to the study of how individuals' attitudes and behaviors can be influenced by persuasive messages and techniques.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of those they perceive as experts or authorities?

  1. Informational Social Influence

  2. Normative Social Influence

  3. Compliance

  4. Obedience
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Informational Social Influence refers to the tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of others who are perceived as knowledgeable or credible.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive members of their own social group as more positive and favorable than members of other groups?

  1. In-Group Bias

  2. Out-Group Homogeneity

  3. Social Identity Theory

  4. Ethnocentrism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In-Group Bias refers to the tendency to favor and positively evaluate members of one's own social group over members of other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to change their attitudes and behaviors in response to persuasive messages?

  1. Attitudes and Persuasion

  2. Social Learning Theory

  3. Social Comparison Theory

  4. Compliance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Attitudes and Persuasion refers to the study of how individuals' attitudes and behaviors can be influenced by persuasive messages and techniques.

Multiple choice

What is the term for the tendency for individuals to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of those they perceive as experts or authorities?

  1. Informational Social Influence

  2. Normative Social Influence

  3. Compliance

  4. Obedience
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Informational Social Influence refers to the tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of others who are perceived as knowledgeable or credible.

Multiple choice

Which social psychological concept refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive members of their own social group as more positive and favorable than members of other groups?

  1. In-Group Bias

  2. Out-Group Homogeneity

  3. Social Identity Theory

  4. Ethnocentrism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In-Group Bias refers to the tendency to favor and positively evaluate members of one's own social group over members of other groups.

Multiple choice

What is the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors and failures to external factors called?

  1. Self-Serving Bias

  2. Fundamental Attribution Error

  3. Confirmation Bias

  4. Illusory Correlation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Self-Serving Bias refers to the tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors (e.g., skills, abilities) and failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck, circumstances).

Multiple choice

Which cognitive bias leads individuals to seek information that confirms their existing beliefs?

  1. Confirmation Bias

  2. Hindsight Bias

  3. Framing Effect

  4. Availability Heuristic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Confirmation Bias is the tendency for individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and disregard information that contradicts them.